Automotive electrical system



P 20, 193? w. J. WILLIAMS 1,878,051

AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEI Filed Aug. 14. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 20, 1932. w. J. WILLIAMS 1,878,051

AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Filed Aug. 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wa wag;

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MOTOR DEVICES, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Application filed August 14, 1930. Serial No. 475,358.

I This invention relates to improvements in automotive electrical systems and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The system with which my invention is concerned is more particularly related to the ignition and the starting motor of an automotive engine, and among the objects there- 10 of is-to provide a system of this kind which is practical in operation and which when the ignition circuit is broken to'stop the engine, prevents any reverse flow of current from the generator as it is driven by the 15 momentum of the engine from energizing I the starting motor and thus restarting the engine when not so desired. L

Another object of the invention is to provide a system of this kind including a switch so for controlling the entire system, said switch embodying a manually operable member which when moved in one direction closes both the ignition and starting motor circuits to energize the same and then automatically 2; breaks the starting motor circuit, said member when. swung in the other direction positively breaking the ignition system and all electrical connectionsthereof with the sourceof current supply thus insuring a positive 30 stopping of the engine.

These objects of the invention as well as others together with the many advantages thereof will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of my invention as embodied in the-ignition and starting I motor circuits of an automotive engine.

k; Figs. '2, 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views of a certain manually operable switch, showing the different positions thereof when operated to start and stop the engine.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view through coactingcontacts of the switch as taken onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 3 and which will be more fully referred to later.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic fragmentary view showing a modified form of the invention.

I I Referring now in detail to that embodilever 29, The other arm 30 of said lever is operatively posi ment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and especially to Fig.

1 thereof, 1 indicates as a whole an automotive engine having spark plugs 2-2 and a fly wheel 3 with a ring gear 4 thereon. 5 indicates the current distributor for the engine, the outlets of which are connected by conductors 6 with the associated spark plugs of the engine. The inlet of said distributor is connected by a conductor 7 with the primary and secondary windings 8 and 9 respectively of a high tension coil 10. A conductor 11 connects one end of said coil-with a ground 12 and in said conductor is interposed the timer 13 for the engine.

The engine drives a generator 14.- in the usual manner. One brush 15 thereof is grounded as at 16 while the other brush 17 is connected by a conductor 18 with one side of a battery 19, the other side of which is grounded as at 20. In the conductor 18 is provded an automatic cut out 21 in the usual manner and for the purpose well known.

22 indicates a starting motor positioned in operative relation with respect to the engine 1, which motor includes a pinion 23 rotatively as well as axially movable on the starter shaft 24, into and out of operative relation with the ring gear 4 on the enginefiy wheel. One side of said motor is grounded as at 25; On said starting motor is a contact 26 adapted to be engaged by a normallyspaced coacting contact 27 carried on one arm-28of a rocking ioned with respect to an electromagnet 31 which includes a winding 32, one endof said winding is grounded as at 33. The contact 27 of the rocking lever 29 is connected by a conductor 34 with the battery 19 through the conductor 18.

In connection with the parts above described, I employ a manually operable switch indicated as a whole as at 35. Said switch includes a base 36 of insulation in which there are providedoppositely disposedcontacts 37 and 38 respectively. As shownin Fig. 5,

each contact is concaved in its top surface and the contact 37 is operatively connected with the conductor 18 while the contact 38 IS operatively connected to the windings of the coil 10.

Pivoted axially on the base plate 36 of the switch for a limited movement in opposite direction is a substantially T shapedmember 39 which includes oppositely disposed arms40 and 41 and a handle or lever 42 disposed at a right angle thereto. This handle or lever extends beyond the periphery of the base for convenience in grasping the same for manipulation. The end of each arm 40-41 is convexed as at 40=41 to provide contacts coacting wit-hthe contacts 3738 before mentioned. In this respect it is pointed out that when the member 39 is swung counterclockwise, the contacts 40*41 leave the contacts 3738 and the switch is in its oil',

condition as best shown in Fig. 2. When the member 39 is swung clockwise, the contacts 4041 engage the contacts 3738 so that the switch is in its on condition. Due to theconcavity and convexity of the contacts just above mentioned, the said member 39 can contact arm 43 disposed opposite the handle 42 and this arm carries two contacts 44 and 45 on one side thereof. Said arm is normally urged in a counter-clockwise direction up against a stop pin 47 on said base by a spring 46. On'the member 39 is provided a pair of studs 4849 one on each side of the arm 43 and the purpose of which studs will soon apear. L

On the base 36 to one side of the arm 43 is located an electromagnet 50 which when energized is capable of holding the arm 43 against the action of the spring 46 and one end of the winding 51 of said magnet is connected by a conductor 52 to the conductor 18.

The other end of the winding 51 is connected to a contact 53 on the switch base in a position to coact with and be engagedby the contact'45 on the arm 43. Also mounted on the switch base is a second contact54positioned to coact with and be engaged by the contact 44 on said arm, said contact 54 being connected by a conductor 55 with the other end of the winding 32 of the electromagnet 31 before mentioned- Assume now that the parts of the switch are in that position shown in Fig. 2 wherein the contacts 40 and 41 are disengaged from their associated contacts 37 and 38 respective ly and it is desired to start the engine 1. To

do so, the handle 42 of the switch is swung b clockwise as far as it will go and is then released. This, of course, will cause the contacts 40"41 to be moved into engagement with the contacts 37 and 38 and will permit current to pass from the conductor 18, through :said contacts and the member 39 to energize the coil 10 and close the circuits through conductor 11, timer 13 to the ground 12 and through the conductor 7 to the inlet side of the distributor 5 and thence by way of the conductors 6 to the spark plugs of the engine. Also in this movement of the member 39, the stud 48 thereon will engage the arm 43 and will cause the same to swing clockwise against the action of the spring 46 and engage the contacts 4445 thereon with the contacts 54 and 53. This closes the circuits through said contacts so that the magnet 31 becomes energized to actuate the lever 29 to make contact between the contacts 26 and 27and thus energize and start the motor 22. Of course, so soon as the handle 42 is released, the member 39 tends to swing a short distance in the other or reverse direction as shown in Fig. 4, but not to such an extent as will disengage the contacts 40"41 from the contacts 3738.

In this reverse movement of the member 39, as above mentioned, the magnet 50 (which has been energized, due to engagement of the contacts 45-53) holds the arm 43 in contacting relation against the action of the spring 46 so that should the engine be tardy in starting, it is still being turned over by the starting motor which is still energized. So soon as the engine starts, it drives the generator 14 and a current is generated thereby which prevents passage of current from the source of supply tot e electromagnet 50 so that the same is deenergized. Under such a condition, the spring 46 immediately retracts the arm 43 up against the stop 47, thus breaking engagement between the contacts 44 and 54, as shown in Fig. 1. This breaks the circuit to the magnet 31 so that the engagement is broken be tween the contacts 27 and 26 and the starting motor is deenergized and stops. Thus the ignitioncircuit- 1S still closed and feeds the engine as it turns'over under its own power.

Assume, now, that the member 39 has been actuated to start the engine and the starting motor has been energized to cause the pinion 23 to rotate and advance toward the fly wheel of the engine. Also assume that the pinion does not properly engage the ring gear 4 and is caused to travel on the shaft 24 away from said gear and then toward the same as happens in some instances. This move ment, which is detrimental to both the ring gear and pinion is apt to be re ated because as yet the ring gear has not en properly engaged and to stop the same it is necessary to break. the circuit to the starting motor. To do this, the handle 42 of the switch memr is swung in a counterclockwise direction when the stud 49 will pick up the arm 43-and forcefully swing it away from the magnet 50 against its retaining action to disengage the contacts 4445 from the contacts 54-53 as shown in Fig. 2 and break the circuit to the starting motor.

Thus, not only the starting motor circuit, but the ignition circuit is also broken and to restart the engine it is again necessary to actuate the member 39 to close both ci cuits. This arrangement is also advant" geous should the engine fail to turn over under its own power after a reasonable turn over by the starting motor. It is apparent that a positive making and breaking of both the ignition and starting motor circuits is possible when so desired and an automatic breaking of the starting motor circuit is had so soon as the engine is started and runs under its own power.

Should the generator fail in its normal function of generating current when drivenv by the engine, it is apparent that the electro magnet 50 would still be effective in holding the starting motor circuit closed. This condition with the engine turning over under its own power'is one desired to be avoided. Undersuch a condition the handle 42 is swung but a short distance in a counterclockwise direction until the stud 49 picks up the arm 43 and swings it away from the electro-inagnet 50. This amount of movement of the handle 42 however, is not sufficient to cause the contacts im-41 to leave the contacts 37- 38 so that the arm 43 is brought up against the stud 48 on the member 39 by the action of the spring 46, all as best shown in Fig. 5. Thus it is possible to start and run the engine through the battery alone upon such a failure of the generator.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a slightly modi:

lied form of the invention embodying a safety feature which precludes any starting of the engine, should the clutch of the vehicle in which the invention is installed,'be in. It is recognized in the automotive industry as good practice, to disengage the clutch before energizing the starting motor to start the engine and this is especially true in colder weather.

In a gap in the conductor 55 I interpose a switch indicated as a whole as at 56 in Fig. .6. This switch includes a fixed contact 57 and a coacting contact 58 on a lever 59, a spring 60 normally actin on the lever to hold its contact 58 spaced rom the contact 57. The lever 59 is connected by a cable 61 to the clutch pedal 62. With such an arrangement, it is apparent that the starting motor circuit cannot be closed upon-actuation of the member 39 because the contacts 5758 are spaced apart and produced a gap in the conductor. Upon applying foot pressure to the pedal 62 to throw out-the associated clutch, said pedal will, through the cable 61 swing the lever 51 against the action of the sprin 60 to engage the contacts 57 and 58 to close t e gap insaid conductor. With the clutch pedal held'depressed to hold the clutch out, the .member 39 is then actuated and the operation of the system is then as before described. It is pointed out that after the engine is running/ under its own power, the starting motor circuit is broken and that therefore, actuating the clutch pedal 62 in shifting from one speed to another in no manner is effective so far as said circuit is concerned. a

The system described is positive in action and prevents undesired restarting, it being pointed out that the ignition circuit is entirely separate from the starting motor circuit so that there is no possibility of a leak'or feed back from one to the other.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form and arrangement of the parts thereof, thesame is to be considered merely as illustrative so that I do not wish to be limited thereto "except as may b specifically pointed out in the ap. pended laims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a system of the kind described, in combination with an engine starting motor and circuit therefor, together with an ignition circuit for said engine, electro-magnetic means for opening and closing said starting motor circuit, a source of current supply, a generator adapted to be driven by the engine (95 for feeding said source of current supply, amanually operable switch capable of manipulation for connecting said ignition circuit and said electromagnetic means with said 'source of supply? and a secondelectromag-v netic means for maintaining said first mentioned electromagnetic means in circuit with said source of current supply after manipulation of said switch, said second electro-magnetic means being deenergized b the operi ation of said generator when driven by the engine for disconnecting said first mentioned electromagnetic means from said source of current supply without afiecting the ignition circuit, said manually operable switch also being capable of manipulation to disconnect said first mentioned electromagnetic means from said source of supply upon failure of said generator in deenergizing said second electromagnetic means.

2. In a system of the kind described, in combination with an engine starting motor and circuit'therefor, together with an ignition circuit for said engine, electromagnetic means for openingv and closing said starting motor circuit, a source of current supply, a generator adapted to be driven by the engine for feeding saidsource of current supply, a manually operable switch capable of man pulation to connect the ignition circuit with said source and including a contact arm having a lost motion connection therewith and capable in one instance of connecting said electromagnetic means to said source of current supply for closing and energizing said no" starting motor circuit and a second electromagnetic means for holding said arm in position connecting the said first mentioned electromagnetic means with said source of supply, said second electromagnetic means being controlled by said generator when driven by the engine to release said arm to disconnect said first mentioned electromagnetic means from said source of current supply.

3. In a system of the kind described, in com bination with an engine starting motor and circuit therefor, together with an ignition circuit for said engine, electromagnetic means for opening and closing said starting motor circuit, a source of current supply, a. generator adapted to be driven by the engine for feeding said source of current supply, a manually operable switch capable of manipulation to connect the ignition circuit with said source and including a contact arm having a lost motion connection therewith and capable in one instance of connecting said electromagnetic means to said source of current supply for closing and energizing said starting motor circuit and a second electromagnetic means holding said arm in position connecting said first mentioned electromagnetic means with said source of supply, said second electromagnetic'means being controlled by said generator when driven by the engine to release said arm to disconnect said first mentioned electromagnetic means from said source of current supply, said switch also being capable of actuation to manually release said arm from said second electromag' netic means upon failure of control by said generator for such purpose.

4. In a system of the kind described, in combination with an engine starting motor and circuit therefor, together with an ign ition circuit for said engine, a source of current supply, a generator adapted to be driven by the engine for feeding said source of current supply, an electromagnetic switch for controlling the passage of current from said source of supply to said starting motor, a manually operable switch capable of manipulation to connect the ignition circuit with said source of supply, a contact carrying arm .having a lost motion connection with said switch for connecting said electromagnetic switch with said current supply and in turn for connecting said starting motor circuit with said source ofsupply and electromagnetic means connected with the generator and source of supply respectively for holding said arm in a position energizing said electromagnetic switch, said electromagnetic means capable ofbeing disconnected from said source of supply under the action of the generator when driven by the engine to release said arm and break the circuit to said electromagnetic switch.

5. In a svstem of the kind described, in

combination with an engine starting motor and circuit therefor, together with an igni tion circuit for said engine, a source of current supply, a generator adapted to be driven by the engine for feeding said source of current supply, an electro-magnetic switchfor controlling the passage of current from said source of supply to said starting motor, a manually operable switch capable of manipulation to connect the ignition circuit with said source of supply, a contact carrying arm having a lost motion connection with said switch for connecting said electro-magnetic switch with said source of suppy and electromagnetic means connected with the generator and source of supply respectively for holding said arm in a position energizing said electromagnetic switch, and electro-magnetic means being capable of being disconnected from said source of supply underlthe action of the generator when driven by the engine to release said arm and break the circuit to said electromagnetic switch, said manually operable switch also being capable of manipulation to release said arm from said electromagnetic means.

6.- In a system of the kind described, in combination with an engine starting motor and circuit therefor, together with an ignition circuit for said engine, a source of current supply, a generator adapted to be driven by the engine for feeding said source of current supply, an electromagnetic switch for controlling the passage of current from said source of current supply to said startin motor, a normally open switch in a gap m an and ignition circuits to said source of supply after said normally open switch has been actuated to close its associated gap and electr0-- magnetic means for maintaining said electromagnetic switch energized after manipulation of said normally open switch, said electro-magnetic means being deenergized by the operation of said generator when driven by the engine for disconnecting said electromagnetic switch from said source without affecting the ignition circuit. 4

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 8th day of August, 1930.

WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS. 

